Designing the Children's Bathroom: Transforming it from a Chamber of Horrors to a Delightful Space for Your Kids
A Whirlwind Tells All: Why is the Bathroom So Intimidating? Let me, a kid, explain it to you adults!
Just as I'm about to feed my doggy some leftover mashed potatoes, Mom appears in my room again: "Alright, let's get you ready for bed." I knew it was coming. Mom takes my hand, and like every evening, we head to that room at the end of the hallway.
Lately, Mom's been trying to make me look nice before bedtime. But we already do that in the morning before kindergarten... So why again at night? The other kids can't see me then – or can they? Oh, the dear Sandman! He can see me. Maybe that's why Mom makes me look extra smart at night.
Whoops, now we're already in front of the room. That was quick. Mom opens the door and turns on the light. "Today, you're going to try doing it all by yourself!" I look at Mom in horror. How am I supposed to manage... all by myself? Okay, first to the toilet. I try to climb up, but my legs are too short. Then Mom comes and helps me. It's scary – I have to lean forward so I don't fall into the big hole. Really, what was so bad about diapers? Mom helps me down again.
Hmm... I still need to wash up. I step into the shower and tilt my head back just to see the large showerhead. It's way too high, I'm not that tall! Carefully, I turn the thingamajig. Ahh, it's too hot and the water is pouring down too hard! Mom quickly turns it off. I'm never going in there again!
Mom takes me on her lap and tries to brush my teeth. It's not easy when I have to cry. But at least she's helping. I wouldn't have been able to reach my toothbrush up on that high shelf anyway...
+ Encouraging Independence in Children with a Montessori Bathroom
A Shift in Perspective for Moms and Dads: It must be a nightmare for little ones, instead of feeling comfortable in a child-friendly bathroom. Everything is too high, too sharp, too wet, or too hard. That's why you should design a children's bathroom that becomes a true treasure trove of joy. How about a thoughtfully designed and creative Montessori bathroom?
In the Montessori method, kids are the focus. Environments, like a well-designed children's bathroom, are tailored to their physical and psychological needs. So, you can design the environment to suit your little adventurer's developmental stage. The goal: fostering independence in children. This means encouraging them to explore, investigate, and learn.
The autonomy of these mini-mariners is paramount – all under the motto: "Help me to do it myself." Enjoying learning, pushing boundaries, overcoming obstacles independently, recognizing strengths and respecting weaknesses, making mistakes and growing from them... all this shapes the everyday life of your whirlwinds in a Montessori environment like the child-friendly bathroom.
In a Montessori bathroom, it's very important for your little explorers to really try things out for themselves – whether it's showering, combing hair, applying lotion, or brushing teeth. In the right environment, they can do all these things on their own! And here's the thing: If you're looking for ideas for a kid-friendly bathroom, you'll often come across Montessori-inspired washbasins, stools, or clever shelving that keeps all their bathroom essentials within easy reach.
Such a children's bathroom promotes independence, motor skills, perception, and even imagination. But wait, before you call the architect or order a wrecking ball, let us first show you how you can transform your bathroom into a genuine adventure oasis for little mermaids and sailors with just a few tweaks.
+ Designing the Kid's Bathroom to Make Water Adventures and Personal Care More Fun
Let's set the sails for a little transformation – are you all on board? Perfect! So, grab your captain's hats, because today we set sail to turn your bathroom into a real Montessori harbor city.
Let's go: A Montessori bathroom can help children become hygienically independent early on. Especially at this age, your little adventurers want to take the helm in their hands – even when it comes to brushing teeth or washing.
And that's where our Montessori magic comes in! By designing the kids' bathroom so they can do these things themselves, you strengthen their confidence and give them the feeling of having achieved something all on their own.
Your little ones will be as proud as punch! But don't just haul in everything you find on eBay or IKEA for the Montessori bathroom. Montessori-designed spaces are minimalist – tidy, beautiful, and without unnecessary clutter. Here are a few ideas from us on how to turn the kids' bathroom into a comfortable haven.
+ Child-Friendly Bathroom Setup: Everything Within Reach
You've probably experienced it yourself: In the supermarket, you just can't reach that one darn cereal box on the top shelf. Frustrating, right? Well, imagine how your kids feel when they can't dry their own hands because the towel hangs five meters above sea level. Frustration is guaranteed! They can't reach anything on their own and always have to ask Mom or Dad. But honestly, that's not how they become bathroom pros. So try to make independence as easy as possible for them. The first step is allowing them in a child-friendly bathroom to use anything they can reach. Let your little adventurers go on a real exploration.
And no, you don't have to rip the sink out of the wall or gut the entire bathroom. Sometimes a small aid can work wonders. Just put a sturdy step stool in front of the sink. This way, they can easily reach it. A step stool in front of the toilet and the light switch also encourages independence.
Store essential items like washcloths and towels in a drawer or basket under the sink. Then, your kids can easily pick out what they need for bathing or face washing. Toothbrushes, toothpaste, and the toothbrush cup should also be within easy reach on the washstand or in a drawer.
Don't forget to involve your mini-mariners in maintaining the children's bathroom. They can hang their towels back or clean up after their adventures. This teaches them responsibility, organization, and where their things are – a true treasure for their future life.
Fostering independence in children works even with toilet visits: In addition to the step stool, we recommend a child-friendly potty or a suitable toilet seat for children. So you don't always have to lift them onto the high seat, and your kids can explore the restroom on their own. Family toilet seats with a smaller integrated seat that can be flipped up or down are particularly practical. Choose seats with a soft-close mechanism to ensure little fingers don't get pinched or startled by a loud slam.
